Here is the latest on our property taxes from my friend and accountant Bob Arundell.  If you wish to contact him or ask him a question, Bob can be reached at (843)785-8040 or his email is bob@mhalawfirm.com

Robbie:

A lot of people came away from a recent article about an adjustment to the School District’s tax mill rate with the idea that their tax bill, when compared to last year’s tax bill, was going up.  THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

The complexity and nuances of public education funding makes it real easy for the average person to arrive at an erroneous conclusion.

I did a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee and used a hand-out that I thought you might find useful.  It explains what really happened and why, on average, your taxes did not go up. Click on the underlined link to read more: BCSD – Tale of Two Taxes

Call me if you have any questions.

Bob Arundell

(843)785-8040

Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates

If you are thinking of moving to Hilton Head sometime in the distant future, it makes sense right now to take advantage of the selection of properties, the low interest rates and rent it until you make your big move.  I have many friends that bought their property before they made the move and rented it.  Some have rented for over 10 years before making this move.

If you are interested in exploring this program with us, let us know and we will set you up on a Free Research Link for homes, villas and lots on or off the Island.  This is the hottest new program and you will love the ability to reseach these properties from your home or office staying anonymous until you are ready.   As well, right now we have demand for rental homes(see below).  Email us at robbie@robbiebunting.com to get your Free Research program set up. 

The market is moving…are you!

All the best,

Robbie Bunting &
Jane Hyers

A Message from Keith Miller, Owner of Miller Long Term Rentals

If you have a buyer that is interested in buying a house to take advantage of the lower prices and interest rates, but they are not ready to move at this time, they should consider buying and placing their purchase on the long term rental market. The inventory of  available homes under $2,000 is very low. Meaning a rental ready home priced under $2,000 has a good chance of renting well.   Let me know if you have any further questions.

Keith A. Miller, PMIC
Miller Long Term Rentals Inc.
4 Dunmore Court, Bldg A, Suite 102
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

121 Dune Lane~Hilton Head Island

 

Robbie Bunting &
Jane Hyers

Benefit List for selling or buying Hilton Head Real Estate

2009 – Revised 8/5/09

• This is our thirtieth (30^th) year and Robbie Bunting’s  25^th year with Dunes Marketing Group
• Established in 1979, DMG is one of the oldest and most respected real estate sales companies in the Hilton Head area.
• DMG has sold more than $5,000,000,000 (5 Billion) in Hilton Head properties since 1979.
• DMG has five (5) highly visible Hilton Head, and Daufuskie locations that are open seven days a week generating thousands of interested real estate buyers every year.
• One of the office locations is a unique real estate kiosk in the center of the busy Shelter Cove Mall. From the kiosk Dunes promotes its listings of properties and meets hundreds of prospective purchasers every year.
• There are more than one hundred (100) full time experienced professional Realtors associated with DMG.
• During 2008, DMG sold almost $265,000,000 in Hilton Head, Bluffton and Daufuskie. This number helped rank DMG as one of the top three performing real estate companies in Southern Beaufort County.
• State of the art interactive website www.dunesmarketing.com. It’s a complete resource for buyers, sellers and anyone who wants to learn more about the Lowcountry. On the site, find all of DMG’s listings and access to the Hilton Head Island MLS. Also featured are community videos, new developments, news, a calendar of events, and our Agent Blogs. DMG listings appear on 34 real estate websites, currently including: HiltonHeadMLS.com, Realtor.com, RELOHomeSearch.com, FrontDoor.com, Locale.com, Trulia.com, Base.Google.com, Zillow.com, Oodle.com, Homefinder.com, Vast.com, Hotpads.com, RealEstate.Yahoo.com, RealEstate.aol.com, Walmart.com classifieds, OceanHomesUSA.com, Cyberhomes.com, Military.com, Local.com, InvestorLoft.com, MyREALTY.com, eRealInvestor.com, DotHomes.com, ResortScape.com, PropBot.com, Lycos.oodle.com and OpenHouse.com.
• DMG Sales Agents regularly receive continuing education at all levels of ability.  DMG agents attend weekly, and sometimes twice weekly, sales meetings and property tours.  DMG agents are better trained and more knowledgeable than most other Hilton Head area Realtors.
• DMG was awarded the Company of the Year for 2008 by the Association of Realtors.
• DMG is a member of the Hilton Head Island MLS Service, which has more than fourteen hundred (1,400) Realtors.
• Over the past three years, more than sixty (60) percent of all the properties sold by DMG were also listed with DMG.  We focus on our listings first and foremost.
• DMG advertises regularly and extensively in virtually every major real estate publication in the Hilton Head area, as well as the Island television station, WHHI-TV.
• DMG sponsors special Island events throughout the year to attract potential customers and support community activities.  One example would be the weekly fireworks during the summer in Shelter Cove Harbour.  Attendance has often been estimated to exceed 15,000 visitors.  DMG has an office open in the harbour and real estate information booths at these events.
• DMG is a regular sponsor of Hilton Head charities, children’s activities, The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and community events.
• DMG has more than 50,000 prospective purchasers in company data banks.
• Approximately 30,000 pieces of direct mail for buyers and sellers are mailed every month by DMG.
• DMG sponsors “mini-vacation” opportunities for prospective purchasers to visit and look at real estate.  These mini-vacations offer reduced cost on accommodations, golf, and tennis for our customers visiting again for a “second look”.
• DMG publishes four issues annually of Palmetto Previews, a seasonal guide to Palmetto Dunes and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The publication is mailed to about 10,000 property owners and prospective purchasers. In addition, 20,000 copies are available in more than thirty locations throughout the area as “take one” and placed in the guest rooms at hotels and rental villas.
• DMG is the number one sales company on Hilton Head Island for the sale of new developer properties in 2008!
• DMG was the number one sales company for villas in Southern Beaufort County for 2008!
• DMG was the number one sales company in Palmetto Dunes in 2008!
• DMG was the number one sales company in Moss Creek in 2008!
• DMG was the number one sales company in Palmetto Hall in 2008!DMG is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (RELO), the largest relocation company in the world with 650 member firms, 4,700 offices and 120,000 associates in 20 countries doing more than 40 billion in sales annually.

Robbie Bunting has been the top agent with Dunes Marketing Group for the last two years and many of the past years.  We can help you get the job done.

Call or email us anytime at 800-932-3652 or robbie@robbiebunting.com . Thank you.

Ideas to Get Your Property SOLD in 2009

Marketing Ideas for Sellers in Challenging Markets  

1. Since buyers have multiple choices in this market, the condition of the property is critical to the sales process.  The property must be near perfect to receive offers.  The homes that sell first are priced right and are in great condition.  (We are at an all time high in listing inventory on Hilton Head; the buyers can simply pick and choose and select the best property and value for them with little pressure to purchase.)
2. In order to receive offers, we must be #1 in position within your neighborhood in terms of price, condition, and location.  If we are not #1 in all three categories, we must be #1 on price.
3. The property must be easy to show and convenient to all Buyers and Agents.
4. Creativity Counts!  Consider giving buyer concessions to trigger an offer.  These concessions could be anything from paying down interest rates, making 6 months of payments for the buyer in advance, paying down the buyer’s credit cards and /or repainting or re-carpeting the property.
5. Consider writing an offer to the buyer to see if they will consider purchasing the property.  This has been successful for a number of agents across the U.S.
6. Determine your net, net, net bottom line and let’s work towards getting the price in line with that position.
7. Consider getting a conventional appraisal on the property to support the price and value we have established for your home and adjust if necessary.  The appraisal will help to support your value and price when the buyer applies for their mortgage.  However, please note the buyer’s mortgage company will not use this appraisal and will order their own independent appraisal. 
8. Consider accepting the first offer.  Many times the first offer is the best offer.  Also in this market, the first offer might be the only offer.
9. Consider offering a 4 or 5 % commission to the selling agent so the property is more appealing to the other agents.  This will provide the agent with additional incentive to show your property.  Therefore, they will be more likely to show your property versus the competition.
10. Understand the market has changed and we must work together to get showings and offers.  Review your motivation to sell so we can get the best offer the market will bear.